What Is Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is the plastic surgical procedure that reduces the size of the breasts. The operation has a 50-year history and has undergone a number of evolutionary changes. Today, breast reduction is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States and is a large part of our practice.

Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?

Many women report immediate improvement in their chronic pain symptoms right after surgery. Despite recovering from the surgery itself, many women report immediate significant improvement in neck, back, and shoulder pain.

Women seek breast reduction surgery for a number of reasons. The most common reason is chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain. The pain has often been treated with pain medicines and physical therapy without relief. The larger size of the breast is refractory to diet and exercise. Many women seeking breast reduction are unable to purchase properly fitting bras, and this only exacerbates their symptoms. These women are also unable to find properly fitting clothing. Often many women complain of rashes beneath the breasts that are unresponsive to medical treatment. Surgery is their final and last option.

Many women seek breast reduction surgery for both medical and cosmetic reasons. Often these women have larger breasts but also desire the beneficial cosmetic effects of the surgery. This includes a smaller, lifted, higher, “perkier” breast. Conceptually the breast reduction and breast lift operations are very similar. The main difference is that in breast reduction breast tissue is removed, where in a straight breast lift breast tissue is repositioned, and none is removed.

Many patients report to Dr. Zemmel that they can even breathe better after surgery. Our surgeon has many patients who have subsequently lost a significant amount of weight after the procedure. These women say that reducing the size of the breasts has unburdened their whole upper bodies and has allowed them to significantly increase their physical activity level. This side is one of the most important beneficial side effects of breast reduction surgery. Not only does it improve or cure upper body chronic pain, but improves the overall health of our patients.

What Can I Expect During My Breast Reduction Consultation?

Your consultation with Dr. Zemmel will last 30 to 45 minutes, and will consist of an interview and a full exam. Our surgeon will learn of your goals and desires regarding the surgery. They will review your medical history and make sure you are medically fit for surgery. You will tell your surgeon of all of the different ways having large breast is difficult for you. Please mention any neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, rashes beneath the breasts, and grooving or cuts from bra straps. Also please mention any prior medicines used to treat the chronic pain and any physical therapy you may have received. Your surgeon will then perform a full breast exam and take a number of measurements:

Your initial cup size will be noted

The height and width of your breasts will be noted

The quality of the skin and presence of stretch marks will be noted

The diameter of the nipple/areola and position on the breast

Quality and distribution of breast tissue

Presence of any cysts, lumps, or masses

The width of your chest and rib change

Your surgeon will then estimate that total mass of breast tissue that will be removed from each breast. For insurance-based cases, Dr. Zemmel will submit a letter on your behalf to your insurance carrier for preauthorization. Once authorization has been obtained, your surgery will be scheduled. Women seeking a cosmetic breast reduction will be provided a full quote with a listing of all of the fees necessary for the procedure.

How Can I Prepare for My Breast Reduction Surgery?

After your surgery has been scheduled, you will return to the office to meet with your surgeon for a preoperative visit. During your second consultation, your surgeon will go over the entire procedure in detail once again. He will also perform another examination and go over what your expected outcome will be. The type of incision used, the final position of the areola, and your approximate final cup size will be discussed. Your surgeon will also discuss in detail the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure and your recovery period.

You will receive a packet containing your prescriptions, pre-operative instructions, and post-operative instructions. We advise you to fill the prescriptions before surgery. You will be given a list of medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements to avoid 2 weeks before surgery. Please review this list and follow all instructions in detail.

How Is the Breast Reduction Procedure Performed?

There are several techniques for breast reduction surgery, and in properly selected patients, they all can give excellent results. Our board-certified plastic surgeon tailors his approach to each patient and does not use a “one size fits all” approach.

All breast reduction techniques use a pattern of skin incisions to allow your surgeon access inside the breast. The second step is removal of breast tissue and skin. This reduces the size and gives overall new shape to the breast. This is followed by lifting of the nipple and areola and then closure of the incisions. The net effect is to produce a smaller, higher, “perkier” breast and to relieve the burden of large breasts on your upper body.

Vertical Breast Reduction

Women who have a moderate amount of excess breast tissue to be removed and a relatively small amount of excess skin and nipple ptosis (sagging) may be a candidate for this technique. This procedure requires an incision around the areola and a vertical incision down the center of the breast giving a lollipop scar pattern. The benefit of the technique is that does not require the horizontal incision underneath the breast, and therefore, recovery is slightly easier. The strength of the lift is not quite as powerful as a full reduction. In women with significant sagging of the breasts and a very low nipple/areola, a full reduction pattern (Wise pattern) may be necessary to optimize size and shape.

Wise Pattern Breast Reduction

For women who have a large amount of excess breast tissue and skin to be removed a full breast reduction incision pattern, or Wise incision pattern will be necessary. This procedure calls for an incision around the areola, a vertical incision, and a horizontal incision under the crease of the breast. This incision pattern is known as the “upside down T” or the anchor pattern. A full reduction pattern will allow your surgeon to remove a maximum amount of skin and breast tissue and give you the most power lift and reshaping possible.

Breast Reduction Using Liposuction

Liposuction is the non-invasive surgical procedure where fatty tissue between the skin and muscle layers is removed through tiny incisions. This technique has been used to reduce the size of the breasts in both men and women. The goal of a liposuction breast reduction is to remove excess fatty and breast tissue and allow the skin to redrape over the remaining tissue. This will give a smaller breast with improved shape. This procedure is also especially useful in men with breast enlargement (gynecomastia) and is the preferred choice of our surgeon for the treatment of enlargement of the male breast.

AWESOME WORK. LOVE DR ZEMMEL..WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE. STAFF WAS GREAT. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. I WENT IN FOR A BREAST REDUCTION AND MY RESULTS ARE AMAZING, WILL GO BACK IF ANYTHING FURTHER I WANT TO DO. LOVE THEM!

How Long Is the Recovery from Breast Reduction Surgery?

Dr. Zemmel admits many of his breast reduction patients overnight to the hospital for observation. This allows our doctors and nurses to closely monitor your initial recovery and progress. Your post-operative pain will be well controlled with intravenous medicines; you will receive medicine for nausea if necessary and be made as comfortable as possible.

Your surgeon will then see you the next morning to change your bandages and discharge you when ready. At home you will rest and relax and frequently move about. Expect to perform light activities of daily living 2 or 3 days after surgery. You may shower 2 days after surgery. Your breasts will be tight and swollen for approximately 1 week after surgery. Many women compare it to engorgement with milk during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Most women do very well and have very little difficulty during the first week. During the second week, you will begin to feel more normal as the postoperative soreness resolves. Most women take 10 to 14 days off from work to recover.

When Will I See My Breast Reduction Results?

During the first couple of weeks, your breast will feel tight and swollen. This usually resolves rapidly after the first week. You will notice that your result will evolve over time. Your breast will initially be high and tight, and over a few weeks time, they will settle and become more rounded. You will notice your breasts taking on a more natural teardrop shape over time. Over the next several months your breast will continue to soften and you scar will lessen.

Are There Any Risks Associated with Breast Reduction Surgery?

The risks of breast reduction surgery include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, damage to other tissue structures, tissue loss, thickened scars, nipple loss, loss of nipple sensation, and breast asymmetry. Although complications are very rare, they occasionally happen, and our surgeon and team take every precaution to reduce the risk of complications. If complications do occur, your surgeon will make every effort to correct the problem.

What Will My Breast Reduction Scars Look Like?

Using the latest breast surgery techniques, Dr. Zemmel takes great care to minimize the prominence of the resulting scars. While some scarring is inevitable, the location of the incision can often be concealed around the outer edge of the areola or along the natural crease of the breast. Patients who require larger volumes of breast tissue to be removed may require an additional scar that runs from the areola to the lower pole of the breast. When wearing a bra or bikini top, the scars from breast reduction surgery should not be visible. In addition, the prominence of any visible scarring should continue to fade over time.

How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?

Since each breast reduction surgery is custom-tailored by Dr. Zemmel, there is no fixed cost for the procedure. On average, cosmetic breast reduction surgery typically costs around $5,482* in the U.S., but this number will vary. The price of breast reduction can be influenced by a variety of factors—such as the incision type, the volume of breast tissue removed during surgery, and the overall complexity of the procedure. The experience of the plastic surgeon, anesthesiologist fees, hospital or surgical facility fees, as well as the geographic location of the practice may also be factored into the total cost of breast reduction. When comparing potential breast surgeons and inquiring about cost, be sure to ask what is included in the price you are quoted. Dr. Zemmel recommends patients spend some time conducting research to find the best breast surgeon for their needs.

In many cases, the cost of breast reduction is covered by the patient’s health insurance provider, as long as the procedure is considered medically necessary (not just cosmetic). Patients may still be responsible for co-payments or plan deductibles. Regardless of health insurance, any patient may take advantage of our plastic surgery financing options. Qualifying patients can benefit from flexible payment plans with low monthly installments through third-party lenders such as CareCredit® or Prosper™ Healthcare Lending. To learn more about these financing options, please contact a member of our staff today.

*Average breast reduction cost taken from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) 2017 statistics.

Will the My Breast Reduction Cost Be Covered by Insurance?

Most insurance plans will cover breast reduction if the patient meets the proper criteria for surgery.

Although the cost of breast reduction surgery is often covered by the patient’s health insurance provider, each case differs. It is necessary to demonstrate significant long-term physical symptoms including back, shoulder, and neck pain. Often patients have rashes beneath the breast, which are unresponsive to treatment with topical medications. Each of the major insurance carriers requires our surgeon to submit your height, weight, and an estimate of the amount of breast tissue removed. Pictures from below the neck level will also be submitted to show the degree of breast enlargement, bra strap grooving, and rash if present. It may take several weeks to obtain preauthorization from you insurance carrier. Once our office has obtained approval, then your surgery will be scheduled.

We accept payment for breast reductions from the following insurance carriers:

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Stock model images are used throughout this website and are for illustrative purposes only. All before-and-after photos and patient testimonials on our site are from actual patients, and have been published with permission. Individual results may vary.